The Chinese shawl
(1912)

• William ORPEN

The frame is labelled on the centre bottom reverse by Daniel Egan but carries a further label on the centre of the right side for Chapman Bros. It is likely the frame was originally made by Egan then recycled in a cut-down and deepened form by Chapman Bros., leaving us to wonder whether these choices were those of the painter or another party.

The basic construction of the frame is a wooden profile with discrete runs of composition ornament. As with many frames in this form, the working edge is formed by the addition of a wooden strip forming a shelf for a run of composition decoration, in this case shield and dart. Here, however, the back edge has been extended with an extra level of timber and in a corresponding way there is a second slip, painted black, which steps the painting back in the frame and leaves a sight edge which is articulated by shadow. The top member of the frame proper has a mitred join across the whole section, but this may be more representative of the original construction than evidence of having been cut down. It is only noted in this one section. The upper left and lower right corners are, nevertheless, sufficiently disturbed to suggest the frame has been cut down at these two joins. The extra depth at the back and the sight edge seem to confirm a major interference with the original form.

It is likely the frame has been re-gilded.